Plot Basics
The NeXtMidas PLOT command plots the following
types of files:
- Midas Blue Files - Types 1000, 1999, 2000, 3000, 5000, 5010
- Graphical Images - gif, tif, jpg, png, etc.
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Images
- Shape files (*.shp)
- KML files (*.kml)
The single NeXtMidas command PLOT does the same thing as all
these X-Midas commands combined: xplot, xrtplot, xraster, xrtraster
and xgeoplot ! PLOT identifies the file type
of the first file and applies the appropriate plot type. The type can be
overridden with the type= modifier.
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The following sections detail a few caveats associated with the
NeXtMidas PLOT command.
Stacking Order
By default, layers (or files) are stacked the way they are entered on
the command line (first is on the bottom). If Backing Store is used for
a layer, that layer(s) is drawn first.
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Using Features
See the FEATURE explain file.
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Backing Store
Backing store is a mechanism where static layers are drawn without
recomputation.
- When-to-use:
Use Backing-store when there are static layers with non-static layers on
top. Enabling Backing-store uses more memory and you do not see the static
(Backing-stored layer) draw. However, the static layer does not have to be
redrawn every time.
- How-to-Use:
Backing-store is disabled by default, except for LayerPoly (Midas Type
1999) and LayerShape (*.shp) files. Individual layers may have
backing-store enabled but it is not be used unless it is turned on at
the plot level via the /ALL switch or OPTION=
modifier.
- Default Layer Enabling:
As mentioned above, individual layers may have backing-store enabled but
it is not used unless it is turned on at the plot level. Most layers
are candidates for backing-store except for:
- All Real-Time Layers - Pipe input or forced at the command line.
- LayerGeo - Draws Geodetic (TDOA/FDOA) lines from state vector data.
- LayerT5 - Enabled because names and symbols, which often act
like features, are frequently drawn.
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Macro Interface
PLOT (and many NeXtMidas primitives) handle events and send
messages to the macro in response to these events. For instance, when the LMB
is clicked in a PLOT a MARK message is sent
to the macro. See the PLOT explain file for a complete list of
messages.
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